Jo-Carroll Dennison (1923–2021), oldest surviving former Miss America
Legacy.com
Jo-Carroll Dennison was an actress and the oldest surviving former Miss America, having won the pageant in 1942.
Pageant and acting career
Dennison grew up traveling in a medicine show with her parents. She didn’t plan on pursuing a career on stage as an adult, but when a banker stopped her on the street in Tyler, Texas one day to ask if she’d represent his bank in the town beauty pageant, she reluctantly agreed. Dennison won not only that pageant but a succession of bigger pageants that led her to Miss America. With a talent performance of “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” Dennison was crowned Miss America 1942. She was one of the first pageant winners to object to wearing a swimsuit as she toured in the year after her victory.
With her win coming during World War II, Dennison frequently entertained U.S. troops as she represented the Miss America pageant. Her pin-up became one of the most popular among service members. Dennison received an acting contract with 20th Century Fox shortly after being crowned. Though her acting career remained minor, she had roles in movies including “Winged Victory” and “The Jolson Story,” and she appeared on TV’s “Dick Tracy” and “The Abbott and Costello Show.”
Notable quote
“I’m glad to have lived long enough to see how women’s fight against inequality, sexual harassment and abuse has finally come to the fore.” —Dennison in a video tribute to the 100th anniversary of Miss America
CARROLL, Jo-Dennison
Born: 12/16/1923, Florence, Arizona, U.S.A.
Died: 10/18/2021, Idyllwood, California, U.S.A
Jo-Dennison Carroll’S westerns – actress:
Beyond the Purple Hills – 1950 (Mollie Rayburn)
Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV) – 1951 (Kathy York)
The Adventures of Kit Carson (TV) – 1953 (Jennie Bailey)
No comments:
Post a Comment